Being a student at UNC comes with a lot of responsibility, history and traditions. We’re a tight community, all linked by this same passion for our university. With that, we have some special ways of expressing ourselves. Here’s a beginner’s guide to some essential Tar Heel lingo (that you may already know) to make yourself sound like a seasoned upperclassman when you step on campus!

23 – The number that Michael Jordan, noted UNC alum and arguably the best basketball player of all time, sported while winning the 1982 National Championship. Also the number that many of us sport from the sidelines of almost any Carolina activity.

89 – The year that the first (and totally unbiasedly greatest) public university in America was founded, 1789. Another number often seen on jerseys to commemorate a historic occasion.

Born and Bred – A phrase from UNC’s alma mater (Hark the Sound!!!), sung at the end of each sporting event. Summarizes our community in that we were all destined to be Tar Heels from day one (even if you weren’t raised this way, you’ll feel like you were!!).

Ceiling is the Roof – Honestly one of the most insightful and inspirational quotes from our very own, Michael Jordan, while announcing his partnership with UNC’s football team. It’s important to note that this was during the 2017 dook game (which we won) – the last home game before winning the natty… don’t question the logic.

DTH – UNC’s student run newspaper organization, the Daily Tar Heel. Captures iconic campus events such as previously mentioned 2017 natty – you may have to get aggressive to get a copy of the Redemption issue though, they’re highly sought after.

Dook – Let’s all learn how to spell our opposites’ name correctly! Producing villains such as Grayson Allen, the only way to spell this university is our way. After all, we’re the better blue and that’s a fact!

We know, being a Dookie is a sad life…

FDOC – The first day of class, in which Heels line up at the Old Well and swear that this semester the sip will lead them to a 4.0… Fact or fiction, it’s a Tar Heel tradition we will always participate in with high hopes for an academically stellar semester.

FTK – A motto you’ll probably hear a lot of on campus, as it comes from Carolina For The Kids, North Carolina’s largest student-run non-profit organization. Especially around Dance Marathon (their 24-hour no sitting, no sleeping event) recruitment season, you won’t be able to walk through campus without hearing “FTK, for the kids!”.

GDTBATH – You’ll very quickly realize that every day is a “good day to be a Tar Heel”, so good that we needed an acronym – because that’s a long phrase to be saying that often. Win or lose, this acronym drives our rivals crazy (haters gonna hate), which makes us love it even more!

GTHD – Speaking of the rivals, the ones we most love to hate are those gothic devils eight miles down the road… the dreaded dookies. The last unofficial line in our alma mater, and my personal favorite is the one that this acronym alludes to: go to heck dook!!

LDOC – The beautiful cousin to FDOC, the last day of classes. A happy day of celebrating the long semester behind us and forget about the stress of upcoming finals. LDOC is especially fun in the Spring when students can lay out on the quad under a nice spring day and get tons of free swag and food in the pit, courtesy of CUAB!

Midterm Season – While some schools have 1 week designated for midterms, this isn’t really a thing for Carolina. In fact, between syllabus week and finals, its basically always midterms season – a time where you can most definitely find students crying in every library possible, because some how it always works out perfectly that all your classes have midterms the same week ://///

This is my constant mood during midterm season…

Natty Champs – Example: April 3rd, 2017, when UNC won the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship, aka the best day of my life. However, Tar Heels are natty champs in several different sports, because we’re not a basketball school 😊

Rams Dining Hall – Now Chase Dining Hall, the older Tar Heels will always refer to the South Campus cafeteria as we know it: Rams.

Rushing – After beating dook or winning a natty in basketball, students flood Franklin Street, burn couches in fires (and hop over said fires), and jump on each other’s shoulders. When the clock hits zero, students drop everything and sprint to Franklin and MLK from wherever they were watching the game. This is the ONLY way to celebrate the most important victories (I promise its super fun and will be a highlight of your year).

Waterpocalypse – Another throwback that you may hear the older Heels talking about. In the Spring of 2017 UNC’s water was infected, cancelling classes that Friday afternoon and causing much of campus to evacuate. In a funny way, this brought students together as we struggled to relocate or survive waterless for the weekend.

If I missed your fav UNC term, leave it & it’s definition in the comments!! As always, it’s a GDTBATH and GTHD!!

A shy 12-year-old girl + a boy with dreamy green eyes = a perfect love story. And it’s true. That little girl fell in love, but not with a person, with a place.

2011

Ugh I cringe just thinking about middle school. Awkward outfits, braces, everyone just trying to fit in… man middle school is rough. For the first time, boys don’t have cooties and everyone you meet you see as the next prince charming. In sixth grade, I thought I had met the love of my life. Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong- but he did set my path to the greatest school on earth. You see, he was a big Tar Heel fan, but us being from Florida, Carolina wasn’t exactly a school you were “born” into loving. UNC could’ve stood for Univerity of Northern California for all I knew. Safe to say, my knowledge of the school was an absolute zero. That didn’t stop me however from I fantasizing about going to college with him and marrying my middle school sweetheart (totally normal right?).

2014

On the way to a Christmas trip to Washington DC, I asked my family if we could stop in Chapel Hill. Yea, it was pretty out of our way, but I told them I was considering it as a place for college, and compared to Orlando, we were closer now than usual. This was the winter break of my sophomore year, so college wasn’t realllyyy on my mind. It was just kinda this place I knew I would go to after high school, but it was anyone’s guess as to where that place would actually be. We ended up stopping by on December 30th. I remember campus was deserted. Obviously everyone had headed home for break. It was cold, the branches were bare, yet part of me couldn’t look away. We walked all around campus trying to find the Old Well. I nagged my siblings as they complained and I just kept telling them, “Guys trust me, this Well thing is like one of UNC’s biggest picture spots.” We ended up at the water tower by Morrison. I know they recently painted it Carolina blue, but four years ago it was as plain as could be. We were not in the right place. After about another hour of wandering around, we finally found it. There was nothing fancy about it. It really is just a well. At that point, I didn’t know what the Well stood for or what its importance was, but I did remember the water was tastier than I imagined. I left that trip with Carolina on my mind, and it hasn’t left my mind since.

2016

2016 marked the start of my senior year in high school. College really mattered at this point. As I tried to make my list of schools, I knew Carolina had to be on it. I spent the first few months of my year checking out what each school had to offer. I narrowed my list to five. I had a few safeties and a few reaches. Carolina was a reach. I was confident in my grades and application, but I can’t deny that those out-of-state statistics aren’t scary. Out of all the schools on my list, Carolina’s application deadline was the earliest one. It was October 1st and I didn’t have my essays written. Two weeks until the deadline. I told myself I just needed to sit and focus, but I was so busy with senior year, that moment never came. October of 2016 was when Florida got hit by Hurricane Matthew. By some miracle, UNC extended their application deadline for families that were hit. I heard the message loud and clear. This was my second chance to get my application in. There was no way I was going to pass it up. I locked myself in a room for a weekend and I typed. I typed my long essay and my short responses. I sent them to my teachers and my friends. I deleted and I rewrote almost every line. Finally at 11:57 PM, I hit submit.

A few weeks later, my mom and I took a trip to Carolina one more time. The last time I had been I was a sophomore, so a lot could have changed. I wanted to make sure it was still the school I remembered. Good news: we didn’t get lost this time. I took her straight to the Old Well and we took pictures again. We paused after as we took in the scenery. Carolina really is beautiful. It’s welcoming and it’s peaceful. I drank from the Well once more, hoping when I heard back from the school in January it would be a “Congratulations!” and not a “We regret to inform you.”

2017

When decisions came out in January, I was too scared to open it. I had my little brother look for me. The thing was, I forgot he didn’t really know how to read. After hearing him struggle with the words, I looked myself and saw it, “It gives us great pleasure…” I can’t tell you what it said after that, my eyes were filled with tears at this point. Everything I had ever wanted was written in the letter right in front of my eyes.

Said brother (and hopefully future Tar Heel) who can now read

In February, my mom and I once again flew to Chapel Hill to see the school one last time. I had my choices narrowed down to two schools, and this trip reminded me why. Walking around campus I saw smiling faces everywhere. I wanted to go to a school where I’d be happy- a school I’d enjoy going to. Chapel Hill was it for me.

2018

As for the boy from middle school, he did also get into Carolina, but he decided not to come here. It’s his loss. Carolina is where I’ve found my home, my friends, and my future. Of all the love stories I’ve heard, Carolina is my favorite so far.

Freshman college move-in day… crazy, right? Seems like just yesterday you were working up the nerves for your first day of high school. Well, that’s definitely how I felt. But it’s happening. In fact, today marks just 50 days until first-year move-in weekend! Does preparing for this monumental day seem overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be. Here’s my insight on how to pack for college like an upperclassman.

There’s Two Types of People…

This time two years ago, I probably already had my hallways at home lined with all the necessities… and then some. Queen of overpacking, it’s safe to say I didn’t nail the concept of simplicity. But you live and you learn, right?

While packing for college there’s the over packers and the under packers. There’s the ones, like me, that read every blog and Pinterest post on how to pack for college on the face of the internet and began packing from the moment they got their housing assignments. On the other hand, there’s those that figure they can get all the necessities in a suitcase the night before. Don’t be either of these people – find a happy medium.

Seriously, you’ll thank yourself if you manage to find that perfect balance between the bare minimum and way too much. It’s definitely not too soon to start thinking what you’re going to bring with you into the next stage of your life. But that doesn’t mean you need to keep piling things up all summer long. It just gives you more time to think about strategic ways to make your dorm the best home it can possibly be!

Step #1: Talk to Your Roomie

Microwave, mini fridge, rug, curtains, futons, extra shelving – these are all the things you don’t need two of. Communicating with your roommate in advance will not only make packing and moving in easier, it will also give you added space in your dorm!

Step #2: Look into RHA Enhancements

This is a super cool perk of living on-campus! You can check out ‘enhancements’ from your community office, including cookware, cleaning supplies, board games, DVD’s, and more with your One Card! Most enhancements you can keep for up to 48 hours and can check out as many times as you want throughout the semester.

So if you were planning on bringing that cupcake pan, mixing bowl, and whisk just in case you wanted to surprise your roommate on their birthday – leave it at home. If you have a meal plan, you probably won’t be cooking that often anyway, so it’s better to take advantage of this great resource!

No catch here, thanks RHA!!!

Step #3: Remember that UNC isn’t a Deserted Island

If you forget something, I promise everything will be okay. We have a Target essentially on-campus, as well as a Walmart and Harris Teeter just a short drive away. Amazon prime will be your best friend, and students get a discounted rate!

This is also a great way to make friends. Knock on your neighbor’s door, introduce yourself, and ask to borrow their (whatever you forgot). Maybe this is how you’ll meet your future bestie, you can thank me later.

Like the opposite of UNC

End Goal – Keep It Light

Repeat after me: you don’t need to bring your whole closet on move-in day. I know, NC weather is bipolar and you never know what you’re going to get. But you will not need your whole winter wardrobe before Fall break.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll live in t-shirts and norts in college. And from the amount of free Carolina blue t-shirts you’ll get at sporting events, extracurricular activities, and just walking around on campus – you don’t need to stock up. Seriously, I had to send some of my free t-shirts home this year because they didn’t fit in my drawers…

When you’re packing your things, really ask yourself if you’ll need it all. If you’re packing something that you may need in only one very specific situation, you can probably leave it at home. Worst comes to worst, you can get your parents to mail it to you!

My Dad loves to roast me on Snapchat for how much I overpacked…

Trust me, packing light is the way to go. Whether you live on the 1st floor or the 10th floor, you don’t want to be lugging two car loads full of things you’ll probably never touch up and down the stairs in 100-degree heat. Your family will definitely thank you if you minimize the work for them… right Dad???

Many believe that housing is simply a place to eat and sleep but what they may not realize is that it is all that and so much more. Though it is a requirement to live on campus and I didn’t really have a choice, I would say that it was the best decision made for me and I’m going to tell you why.

Picture of my roommate and I.

Well first, there’s change (and not like the quarters you don’t have in your pockets because being a broke college student is real 😅). Most of us may not be used to change, as we have lived with our parents all our lives, known the same people since we were kids and have become familiar and comfortable with everything around us. However, when college comes around everything you know changes, including yourself. Living with a complete stranger seems very intimidating as you’re forced to share a small place in an environment that is far from anything like home. Yet, I truly am grateful that I was able to have this experience because I met such an amazing person that I can actually call a friend. In retrospect, living with a random person seemed like a disaster waiting to happen but it’s cool to see how a genuine friendship was formed. However, with friendships comes hardship. You and your roommate or even your new-found friends might not always see eye to eye but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t live together or you shouldn’t be friends. This is where the change happens. You learn to compromise, be understanding and respectful which helps you grow as an individual, a friend and/or roommate. You may not be buddy buddy with your roommate or those around you but explore the possibilities to hopefully have the chance to gain amazing friendships.

Picture of my friends and I on our first halloween night.

The experience in college are like no other. Of course the main priority when coming to college is to obtain that nice GPA and degree so you can go on with your life and have a successful career and future. However, once you come to college you’ll soon realize that’s only the beginning. Since you have sooo much time and freedom in college, you are able to explore and spend your leisure time however you chose. If you or a friend happen to have a car, you can take a quick trip to Raleigh, explore the Triangle area, go to concerts and so much more. Since senior year of high school I’ve been wanting to go to see The Weeknd in concert but my mom was not having it. So once I got to college, my friends and I road tripped all the way down to South Carolina which was an 8 hour drive to and back and had the best times of our lives. Singing throwback songs in the car for hours and having minor heart attacks when someone would drive too intense (mostly me) made the trip even worth while and was something I never thought I would be able to experience. I also got to experience my first Halloween night (yes I’ve never been out for halloween, sad I know) and it was a great time. Ordering our costumes months before, getting ready with makeup and nails, taking pictures and finally going out was something I’ll never forget. Overall, there’s many more experiences you can encounter while you’re in college. Enjoy the times you have and the memories you makes and cherish the friends that make it special. Makes these four years the best that you can because time flies when you’re having fun.

My friend and I at a photoshoot for black girls of Class 2021.

Besides the memories and experiences you make by living on campus, there are some amazing perks you may not have realize until you have actually moved in. Well one thing is that almost everyone here is always willing to help. From the day you step font on campus to move in, there is endless support, as I didn’t expect a group of students (Haulin’ Heels) so eager to help me move ALL my luggage and items into my dorm. Everyone was so welcoming and nice, it made me feel at ease and comfortable which made the transition from high school to college easier. Also throughout the year, there were endless events coordinated by students and organizations that provided free food, swag items and a great opportunity to explore campus and meet new people. So although it may be nerve-wracking to try new things and get out of your comfort zone, I highly encourage you to do so because you’ll soon come to realize that college is all about being comfortable with the uncomfortable, as you’re exposed to new and different people and experiences.

Ask any UNC student or alumni which college they hate the most and I’d be willing to bet a solid 90 percent of them will say Dook. That being said, I’m sure there’s some people, in particular, incoming first-years who don’t really follow the rivalry (yet), that are kind of confused by this hatred.

Why do we hate Dook so much? What is it about the University of New Jersey at Durham that just sets all UNC people on edge? I can’t necessarily speak for every UNC fan, but I think there are some general things we can all agree on when it comes to why we hate Dook.

There are some who will tell you that we hate them because they’re good, but I can give you three reasons that argument makes no sense.

First of all, the point is moot because we’re good as well.

Second, I’ve always hated this argument in sports because no one hates anyone just because they’re good. Clemson is good at football and I don’t hate them. LeBron is good at basketball and I don’t hate him. Cate Blanchett is good at acting and I REALLY don’t hate her. My point is, simply being good isn’t enough for people to hate you like we hate Dook.

Third, when you really look at it, they’re not as good as they seem to think they are. I mean sure, they have a lot of preseason championships to their name, but given all of the tools they have at their disposal, they really don’t do that well. In the last three years, they’ve had a recruiting class with at least three five-star recruits, many of whom were the number one player at their position, they have Coach K, who is one of the greatest college coaches of all time and most of the time they switch to zone defense in March, which, according to my friend Colby, is for cowards. And with all of these assets, what do they have to show for it? One (1) Elite Eight appearance in the last three years. In all honesty, it is truly inspiring how they continue to do so little with so much.

But I’m getting off-track. Why do we hate Dook? Because they’re snobby and entitled.

Their snobbery is difficult to articulate until you’ve experienced it yourself. For me, that was visiting their campus. I visited Dook in 2014 when I was going on a trip with my family to visit colleges, and right away, I realized that there was just something so off-putting about a ridiculously expensive haven for Ivy-League rejects with a weird amount of Gothic architecture located in Durham, North Carolina. It gives it this air of snobbiness that you can feel the second you step foot in that area, and the snobbiness pervades into some of the attitudes of the students and players (notice I said ‘some of’ before any of you get mad).

Then there’s the entitlement. Like I mentioned earlier, Dook has more tools at their disposal than nearly any other team in college basketball, and they still end up with mediocre finishes. Also, the way they play, with all the whining and the flopping is infuriating. I’ll admit, everyone does a fair amount of flopping now, but Dook has been doing it forever, and has honestly made an art out of it. My personal favorite instance of Dook whining, though, has to be Luke Kennard in the 2017 NCAA Tournament:

There are so many things I love about that picture, but I think the thing I love the most is how much it looks like the crying Northwestern kid.

Speaking of Kennard, let’s talk about Dook’s players for a second. Granted, not all of them are that annoying, I’ll actually admit that Marvin Bagley III seems like an ok guy and is definitely a phenomenal basketball player. But the players like Grayson Allen, J.J. Redick and Christian Laettner are some of the most hated players in college basketball. And that hatred doesn’t stem from the fact that they’re “good,” as many Dook fans would have you believe. It stems from the unsportsmanlike conduct and arrogance they constantly exhibited. I mean, who could forget Laettner’s infamous stomp:

Or the Grayson Allen tripping saga that resulted in him throwing a temper tantrum on the bench and getting suspended indefinitely (which apparently means one game):

Or J.J. Redick’s like…general aura:

These three were some of the most polarizing figures in sports during their time at Dook, and when I say polarizing, what I actually mean is that the only people that liked them were Dook fans.

I think I’ve gone on long enough, and hopefully, this will serve as an introduction into exactly where this rivalry comes from, but if you want someone who explains the hatred of Dook way better than I could ever hope to, here’s a column from the Daily Tar Heel on the subject. And if there are any Dook fans reading this, click here to read a rebuttal to this post.

And, just for fun, here’s my least favorite player, Grayson Allen, committing what is, in my opinion, the dumbest foul of all time.

Believe it or not, the summer can get pretty boring when you don’t have your classes to worry about. Although I’m still living in Chapel Hill for the summer, it’s not the same when you don’t see 30,000 of your fellow Tar Heels running around campus everyday. I never thought I’d say this, but I can’t wait for August to come back around when classes will start for the Fall 2018 semester.

I know many of you reading this are rising First-Years, so you haven’t yet had the chance to gain the Carolina experience. With that being said, you may think I’m crazy for missing school of all things, but you will soon see! Let me lay down 4 reasons why the academic school year (roughly August-April) is the best part of UNC’s year.

1. Seeing all of my friends

Remember in high school, when you got to see your friends in class everyday–that was pretty cool, right? Now, imagine you can still take classes with your friends, but you also live right down the street from them, or maybe even in the same building! College is a great place to make friends, or hang out with the ones that you already have.

It’s so nice to be able to grab lunch with someone once a week, rather than just keep up with their summer adventures on social media and chat every now and then. If any of my friends are reading this, I MISS YOU!!

2. I genuinely enjoy my classes!

College is great because I get to explore whatever academic interests I like! For that reason, my classes usually end up being pretty fun. I have great professors, and a TON of awesome resources on campus in case I ever have any trouble with my homework.

I’m really excited for a class I’m taking this fall, POLI 236 – Politics of East-Central Europe. This is a new topic to me, so I’m really excited to learn more about the world with this course for one of my majors!

3. Athletics (go TAR HEELS!!!)

While there are some intramural sports during the summer, they just don’t have the same effect on me as our varsity D1 games. Whether it’s a Saturday football game against Florida State or a trip to the Dean Dome to see the MBB team beat Wake Forest, athletics are one of my favorite parts about the school year!

It’s great to take a break from the library and head down to support our favorite Tar Heel teams.

4. Campus events

Starting during the Week of Welcome in August and continuing through finals in early May, there’s always something fun going on around campus. From our annual Fall Fest to the Jubilee concert each spring, us Tar Heels are always having a great time somewhere on campus. Check out this link to see some more of what I’m looking forward to!

Thanks for reading! I can’t wait to see you all campus this fall as we embark on another year of classes 🙂

Okay it’s true, Tar Heels love their basketball. No, we worship our basketball. From late November to early April, the one thing getting us through our Winter blues is that Carolina plays in the upcoming future. We plan our schedules around the Heels, ensuring that we are free to watch each and every game. That is all incredibly true. But we will never be just a basketball school. The passion for the color on our backs bleeds into each and every sport. Need some facts to back it up? Look no further.

Women’s Soccer

A classic example of Carolina talent in it’s purest form, this team holds a whopping 22 National Championship titles[1]. For comparison, the next university with the most titles in this sport is Notre Dame with three titles. To say that Carolina is dominant in Women’s Soccer is an understatement. It should come as no surprise that several Tar Heel alums have won Olympic Gold Medals in this sport. We are so proud to call this program, led by Anson Dorrance, our own.

Field Hockey

Coming in third in the natty count behind Women’s Soccer and Men’s Basketball is Field Hockey with six championship titles! Most recently, the Heels made it all the way to the Final Four in 2017. This team was also home to six women who earned All-ACC Academic honors, proving that they are successful both on and off the field!

UNC has won 20 out of the 35 ACC Field Hockey tournaments that have been played. That is, while the team accounts for 12.5% of the league, it owns ~57% of the tournament titles. In the 2016 Olympic Games, five out of the 16 players on Team USA were former Tar Heels[2].

Men’s Lacrosse

In 2016, UNC secured their fifth National Championship title in Men’s Lacrosse. The team also holds 13 ACC champions, the second most in the league behind Virginia. Next Thursday, June 28th you can catch four of these former Heels in action in the Major League Lacrosse All-Stars match[3]!

Baseball

While our baseball team has never won a College World Series, this is such a talented team worth noting. This year the team made it all the way to the CWS, and while they weren’t able to bring home the title, we are still so proud of their incredible season! This team has six ACC tournament titles and 11 regular season titles, most recently in 2018.

Another reason to love the Diamond Heels? Keenan Stadium and the Dean Dome are amazing places, but there is nothing better than spending a day in the Boshamer Stadium, watching the Heels play baseball, under a beautiful Carolina blue sky!

Football

So we’ve had our ups and downs with the football program here. While every season may not have been as picture perfect as we may have hoped, this program has created some remarkable successes worth noting. Greg Ellis, Julius Peppers and Mitch Trubisky are among the 215[4] Tar Heels that have played in the NFL.

Cross Country, Track and Field, Fencing, Golf, Tennis, Wrestling, Gymnastics, Rowing, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Volleyball, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball, and Women’s Lacrosse – I didn’t forget about you guys. But if I raved about each and every Carolina team (which I promise, I totally could), this blog post would go on FOREVER.

So moral of the story, while our basketball team is home to seven National Championships, an incredible coach with over 800 career wins, and amazingly talented athletes; at UNC we love all our sports just the same – and we will not stand to be called a ‘basketball school’.

With almost 19,000 undergraduates, it would hypothetically be easy to blend in at Carolina. But one of my favorite things about our university is that “blending in” isn’t something Tar Heels love to do. There are so many ways to get involved in campus to make yourself stand out that make 19,000 not seem so big or scary at all!

Join a Student Organization

With over 800 student organizations to choose from, it’s almost impossible to not fall in love with at least one! With everything from politics to dance to service, there is sure to be an organization with your name written all over it.

Eight hundred options can seem overwhelming, that’s why Carolina Union hosts FallFest at the end of move in weekend each year. At this beloved UNC event, hundreds of representatives from student organizations set up tables to explain why YOU should join their organization. It’s a super fun event complete with free food, performances, and meeting new friends!

Fall Fest is a popular event for new and returning Heels alike!

Become a Leader in your Org

Once you get settled into the organizations you’re passionate about, stay dedicated to them. Being a leader in a college organization has shaped my Carolina experience. While you may have been president of your high school’s National Honor’s Society chapter, leading a university organization comes with much more responsibility and power. The officers are in charge of everything, from finances to registering with the university to dealing with internal conflicts. By holding a leadership position, not only are you impacting your organization, you also learn a lot about yourself and maybe even your future goals!

Get Involved in Greek Life

This is a popular one that I’m sure you’ve heard all about, and probably have your own ideas about already. While this wasn’t the route for me, I have tons of friends who have found their home at Carolina in a sorority or fraternity. Keep in mind that the meaning and importance of Greek Life extends way beyond all the stereotypes. I highly recommend looking into it with an open mind to explore if you’re interested in rushing!

Members of UNC Fraternities and Sororities coming together.

Participate in an Intramural Sport

Continuing with the theme of endless options, UNC offers over 50 intramural sports for all skill levels. This is a fun way to channel your inner natty champ winning athlete, get your exercise in, and meet tons of cool people!

From sit-down volleyball to cornhole, there are tons of unique sports for you to try! And if you can’t find your passion, you are more than welcome to start your own team. All you have to do is pull together a few teammates and register with Campus Rec! For more details, check out this link.

Win an event, score a coveted Intramural Champ T-Shirt!

…Or Just Attend Sporting Events

If you, like me, aren’t as athletically gifted, you can still get involved while staying on the sidelines! Even with little knowledge of sports (speaking from experience) supporting your talented peers can be tons of fun. At the University of National Champions, we’re really into school spirit so this one is a must. With free tickets to games, you might as well take advantage of this incredible perk while you’ve got it. Supporting the Heels is honestly therapeutic, you can let out all the stress from classes with one big “TARRRR…”

#GetIntoIt!!!!!

Bond with a Professor or Mentor

The staff at UNC is amazing and they are all so incredibly passionate about their jobs – teaching you! Even in those huge lecture halls where it can be easy to sit in the back row, go that extra mile to make sure your professor knows you. Whether it’s sticking around for a couple of minutes after class, shooting them an email, or attending office hours, professors will appreciate students that express interest!

Even if you understand the course material perfectly, simply introducing yourself is a great way to start getting involved in the UNC community. Adults have been in our position and can offer everything from job references to life advice.

Bottom line is: no matter how you do it, step outside of your comfort zone and get involved! At Carolina there are so many ways to do so without ever leaving campus, and involvement will help you find yourself, your people and even what you want to do with your life. Don’t spend your four years in your dorm!

If you’re an incoming first year, you may wonder if the broke college student life is real? Even as a returning student you could be in that current state as we speak (well read). Either way, whomever you may be, I’m going to share some tips on how to save your shmoneyy and get your coins.

FOOD. FOOD. FOOD.

Since we’re notorious for being broke college students, ever wonder what we spend the most money on? It is known that most college students spend a lot of money on food, and after just my first year I can definitely attest to that. Whether it’s grabbing a bite out with friends or ordering in, we tend to overspend on meals. So, in order to avoid all the unnecessary expenses on food, it is wise to add dinning flex to your UNC One Card. For those of you who may not know, you can add flex which is basically money specifically for food to your UNC One Card. This will allow you to pay for meals by swiping (like a regular card) at those dinning locations all around campus and even some places on Franklin Street. This way you have allotted money that is specifically for food so you wont have to worry about impulse buying. Also, if you have a meal plan on campus, make sure to utilize those green to-go boxes to store food for later, so you can not only save a swipe but you won’t have to worry about your next meal. In addition, purchasing snacks or groceries to keep in your room is smarter as you’re able to grab something from your fridge easily instead of having to order something. Needless to say, grabbing a meal with friends or ordering your favorite pizza once in awhile is okay but try to avoid overspending so you can save your coins for other things.

GETTING A JOB OR INTERNSHIP

Although your main priority for coming to college is to get that degree, if you have the time or chance, picking up a part-time job or finding a paid internship can very beneficial. Not only will you be rewarded financially but you are also getting experiences that will allow you to develop your skills that you can eventually put on your resume. Working is also an opportunity that will help you learn how to save because you will soon come to realize the value and/or struggle of making a buck. Having a job also teaches you management and organization which you can apply to saving money and spending, or in this case not spending. Nonetheless, getting that paycheck every other week is a sweet feeling and is even sweeter when you don’t go out the next day and spend it all. Of course, you deserve to treat your self for all that hard work but don’t go overboard so that all your hard earned money won’t be wasted on things you’ll never use or that are unnecessary.

BUDGETING

As lame and tedious as that may sound, it’s very beneficial to have a budget planned for the school year cause if not well…

Creating a plan or system where you allot specific amount of money to certain things like clothes, going out, school supplies and groceries will help you visually map out the needs from the wants. It gives you the chance to see where your bad spending habits are, and also helps you find ways to organize your expenses. Also, when budgeting you can create a certain plan to save money (like 50% of you paycheck goes to your saving account) that way you will have the funds in case of an emergency or unexpected circumstances. Most banks have budgeting softwares within their banking apps or you can simply write out a plan in your notes and take control! Additionally, UNC hosts many events targeted to students like us, who struggle with spending money so be sure to look out for flyers to get some tips from professionals about how to budget and save! There are many resources available and many are at your fingertips, so be sure to use them while you can to avoid breaking the bank.

In fifth grade, I was a little girl who couldn’t open her own water bottles. I remember the first day of school, I had to ask the girl next to me if she could open mine for me. Little did I know she would become my best friend for the next nine years. This fall, I’m heading into my sophomore year at Carolina. I can thankfully say I can open my own water bottles now, and I’ve also found some other pretty great friends along the way. Yet one year ago, my biggest fear was not having any friends. I’m from Orlando, and as you can expect, there aren’t many Floridians rushing to go to school at UNC. Though it was relieving to know I was going to a school where I could start completely fresh, I knew there wouldn’t be any recess time or water bottles to help me make friends. I didn’t want to be that one girl who hated college because she lacked a social life, so meeting people became my number one priority. As you say goodbye to your hometown friends this summer, I’ve gathered some tips on how to make new ones here at Carolina.

Become a regular

The first few weeks of school is the time when everyone starts to get into the groove of things- you learn how late you can sleep in and still make your class, what days Lenoir is serving mac ’n’ cheese, and most importantly, what your go-to study place will be. Your habits probably don’t change much from day to day, so you’re bound to become a regular somewhere. Good news? You’re not the only one. Everyone has a specific schedule they follow, so there’s a good chance you’ll be running into some of the same people over and over. My first year, I was not expecting Carolina to be so cold so early on in the year. By late September, I was already opening up my Florida winter bins. When it was 50 degrees outside and I didn’t want to walk home from the UL late, I would do my homework in one of the study lounges in my residence hall. Turns out, a lot of other people felt the same way. Each day, no matter which lounge I was in, I would see someone familiar. Eventually, I found some of my best friends inside the Horton study lounges. You have no idea how much you can bond with someone over being stressed out about a paper at 2 am.

2. Tag along with your roommate

Having a roommate has a long list of perks, one of them being that their friends will probably also become your friends. When all else fails, don’t be shy about tagging along with your roommate! Last year, my roommate came from a school in Raleigh, so she knew a lot of people coming to campus. It helped me a lot, because those first few nights before I knew anyone, it was her group of friends that made me feel more comfortable. Plus, there will be times your roommate invites his/her friends to your room, so it helps to be friendly with them! Make sure you get to know them, you might be seeing them a lot throughout the year.

3. Bake cookies

On move-in day, two girls in my hall baked cookies for everyone. They had moved in early because of Carolina Kickoff, so while everyone else was coming in and out with boxes and mini fridges, they were already settled into their rooms. They used their time to come up with an idea on how to meet people, and who doesn’t love cookies? That afternoon, they went door to door handing out cookies, and if there’s one thing college students love, it’s free food. If you move in early for whatever reason, try this tip out! It’s a super easy, nonintimidating way of meeting everyone on your floor. Everyone will remember the person that gave them their first piece of free food at Carolina.

4. Accept invitations

The two guys that lived next to me, went knocking door to door on the first afternoon asking people if they wanted to join them for dinner. If someone in your hall does this, GO!! I know everyone has pictured that scene from a movie where a kid is sitting alone in the dining hall. Though now I understand this is perfectly normal, I remember my freshman year I was super paranoid about being alone. The fact I didn’t have to worry my first night about eating alone seriously calmed my nerves about Carolina. Not everyone you meet your first day will be your instant best friend, but it doesn’t hurt to try. These two guys, Josh and Tyler, would end up being some of my best friends.

5. Don’t be afraid to initiate!

For the first football game of my first year, my roommate woke up sick. I had planned on going to the game with her, but she was a mess, and I knew there was no getting her out of bed. For a moment, I panicked. There was no way I was going to miss my first Carolina football game (even if we ended the season 3-9, basketball school right?), but there was also no way I was going to go by myself. An hour before kick off, I finally got the courage to go down the hall and ask some of the girls if I could join them. I didn’t even have to explain myself- they welcomed me with open arms. We may have lost that game, and many more, but I made some of my best friends by swallowing my fear and just asking them. Don’t be scared to do the same.

6. Join Clubs

Finally, the most obvious one. Joining clubs and organizations at UNC is the easiest way to make friends. Join Greek life, try out for a sports team, take part in service events…anything you do will make you a friend. Tar heels are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet, take advantage of it.